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Changes in urinary habits or prostate health can understandably raise concerns. However, many symptoms, such as frequent urination or difficulty starting urination, are common in benign conditions like an enlarged prostate (BPH) and don’t necessarily indicate cancer. In this article, Dr Shalabh Agrawal, a leading urologist in Gurgaon, explains how an enlarged prostate differs from prostate cancer and what signs to watch for.
Prostate enlargement (BPH) is a condition that causes the prostate to grow. It majorly affects older men over the age of 50 years. Nonetheless, BPH can begin developing in a man starting from the age of 40.
Prostate cancer is a condition that leads to the growth and spread of cancer cells in the prostate. This cancer can affect any man at any age
| BPH | Prostate cancer |
| Non-cancerous cells. | Cancer cells are present. |
| Centre of the prostate is affected. | Sides of the prostate are more affected. |
| PSA levels increased | PSA levels increased. |
| Normal enlargement die to aging | Abnormal enlargement/tumor |
| Does not spread | Does spread |
| Not life-threatening | Can be life-threatening |
BPH is a benign enlargement of the prostate, caused by increased numbers of normal cells, primarily in the transition zone around the urethra.
Key point: Although both conditions share risk factors such as age and hormonal influences, they have different pathophysiological mechanisms and do not transform into one another. Studies indicate that BPH does not increase the risk of prostate cancer, and vice versa.
Symptoms of BPH and prostate cancer can overlap which may create confusion. Here is a brief comparison to understand.
| Symptoms | BPH | Prostate Cancer |
| Frequent urination | ✔ | ✔ (less common in early stage) |
| Nocturia (night time urination) | ✔ | ✔ (less common early in early stage) |
| Weak urine stream | ✔ | Occasionally |
| Difficulty starting urination | ✔ | Occasionally |
| Dribbling / incomplete emptying | ✔ | Rare |
| Blood in urine or semen | Rare | ✔ |
| Unexplained weight loss | ❌ | ✔ |
| Bone pain | ❌ | ✔ (advanced disease) |
Takeaway: BPH mostly causes urinary symptoms whereas early prostate cancer may be silent and later present with symptoms like blood in urine, weight loss or bone pain.
Also Read: Common causes of frequent urination in men
Although both BPH and prostate cancer affect the same organ, their risk factors differ.
Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer
Also Read: Top 10 expert- approved tips for prostate cancer prevention
Only symptom evaluation is not sufficient to differentiate between BPH and prostate cancer. Your doctor will use a combination of tests for an accurate diagnosis.
| Test Name | Findings in BPH | Findings in Prostate Cancer |
| Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) | Smooth, symmetrically enlarged prostate | Hard, nodular or irregular areas |
| PSA Testing | Mild elevation possible | May be elevated, but not always reliable alone |
| Imaging (Ultrasound / MRI) | Shows overall prostate enlargement | Detects suspicious lesions or abnormal areas |
| Prostate Biopsy | Benign tissue growth | Malignant (cancerous) cells confirm the diagnosis |
Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by prostate cells and measured in blood:
Note: PSA is not a cancer-specific marker. Doctors assess PSA trends over time rather than a single result to decide if further testing is needed.
Even men with BPH should undergo regular prostate screening, because early prostate cancer may be silent.
Benefit: Early detection increases the chances of successful treatment and reduces complications.
The treatment for both these conditions is unique. Prostate cancer is treated with a multidisciplinary approach and is usually more extensive. The objective of cancer treatment is to destroy the cancer cells and stop them from growing further.
Read: Everything you need to know about prostate enlargement: Benign prostatic hyperplasia
We have understood that there is no direct link between an enlarged prostate and prostate cancer. They do have some similar symptoms, but prostate enlargement does not directly lead to cancer. There are many other risk factors associated with cancer.
You can learn more about the health of your prostate at the CK Birla Hospital. Book an appointment with Dr Shalabh Agrawal, best urologist in Gurgaon today.
Also, read: The Growing Problem Of An Enlarged Prostate Gland
Indian daily soaps are well-known for their overabundant dramatic plots. However, on rare occasions, these dramatic scenes are nearly realistic – for instance – while showcasing a pregnancy. An expecting mother undergoes an upheaval of mood swings throughout 9 months. The mood swings during pregnancy are not at all exaggerated.
While the physical changes of pregnancy are lauded in women, the emotional changes are often sidelined. Every shift of emotions that a pregnant woman encounters is valid and reasonable.
In this article, Dr Aruna Kalra, the best obstetrician and gynaecologist in Gurgaon, talks about the emotional highs and lows of pregnancy. Read on to explore tips and tricks to cope with these changes.
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Your body starts to prepare for the course of pregnancy as soon as conception happens. The tremendous changes you go through during gestation are necessary to host the growth of your baby.
It is only natural to experience a shift in how you feel. Various factors attribute to the emotional ups and downs of pregnancy.
No two pregnancies are alike. Every pregnant woman experiences a different set of mood swings at a unique intensity. Here are some common mood swings during pregnancy and strategies to help you deal with them.
The thought of starting or expanding your family with the arrival of a baby is the most joyous feeling for most women. Chemically, the good emotions that you feel during pregnancy are linked with the rise in estrogen hormones. Estrogen is responsible for regulating your mood and is associated with serotonin (the happy hormone). In the early stages, you are likely to feel very enthusiastic and excited about this journey.
The easiest way to cope with happiness is to spread it. These hormones can help you bond with your partner in an extraordinary manner.
Along with estrogen, your body will also undergo an increase in the levels of progesterone. This hormone keeps the muscles from contracting and thus, may cause weariness and fatigue. The constant shift between estrogen and progesterone can make you irritable towards small inconveniences.
You should seek your partner’s support to cope with irritation and fatigue. It is always better to inform others about your heavy feelings. You can make a list of activities or conversations that particularly irk you and avoid them on bad days.
Most women experience an elevated sex drive, especially in the second trimester. While for some, the idea of having sexual intercourse during pregnancy is strange, others tend to enjoy it. The increased libido is a result of increased blood flow in your body.
Sexual intercourse during pregnancy is mostly safe. You should, however, consult your OB-GYN and discuss if it is safe for you to have sexual activity. You should also consider your partner’s comfort and have an at-length discussion.
Pregnancy can make you feel distinctly tired. Your body will be making overwhelming adjustments to support the growth of your baby. Besides the hormonal imbalances, the side-effects of pregnancy such as morning sickness can add to your sense of fatigue. In addition to caring for your health, you have to continue working on your routine tasks or manage your job. All of these factors contribute to a feeling of exhaustion.
The best solution to overcoming fatigue is rest. You should focus on prioritising your tasks and making time for sleep. You can try to adopt a new self-care routine to help you relax and prepare for the next day.
If you feel uncontrollably anxious during pregnancy, you are not alone. Anxiety is a very common emotion felt by expecting mothers. While you would be busy adapting the consistent changes, you may feel fearful of what is to come. A wide spectrum of aspects need attention during this sensitive time – your health, child’s health, career, family, monetary issues, goals and whatnot.
Anxiety can be overwhelming to cope with. The ideal strategy for pregnant women is to take one day at a time. While you should have a plan for the future, try not to think too much about the several ‘what ifs’. You can start journaling your thoughts to help alleviate anxiety.
Fear and anxiety are correlated. The intense sense of fear is mostly associated with the outcomes of pregnancy. As a woman progresses in her pregnancy, her sense of fear also changes. During the first trimester, most women fear having a loss of pregnancy. While in the second trimester, they are worried about their capacity for motherhood. By the third trimester, most women fear the complications of childbirth and labour.
It is okay to be fearful for the health of yourself and your baby. You can, however, eliminate most fears by rational thinking. You should frequently discuss your concerns with your OB-GYN. You should aim to practice all the clinical guidelines to have a healthy and safe pregnancy.
Pregnancy can make you more forgetful and disoriented. The mood swings during pregnancy-related to lack of concentration and memory issues are known as ‘baby brain’. The cognitive thinking and ability to remember becomes weak in expectant mothers. The higher levels of progesterone are accountable for this situation.
You can easily deal with the occasional forgetfulness by maintaining a small diary. If you feel you miss out on something important, just note it down for the future. You should seek your partner’s support through these memory lapses.
You may find yourself wanting to cry at minor difficulties during pregnancy. The fluctuation of pregnancy hormones impacts your emotional capacity. Sometimes, a joyful occasion can also make you tearful. Most expecting women tend to cry when they are unable to manage the internal mixup of hormonal and chemical imbalances.
You should remember that crying is not a sign of weakness. You should discuss your feelings with your partner. If your emotions well-up, you should consider talking to a counsellor.
We seldom see women in plus sizes or imperfections on television or even social media. This representation is also applicable for pregnant women. However, pregnancy can have more clear effects on your face, skin and size. Some expecting mothers start to have body image issues during the second and third trimester of pregnancy when the bump is more pronounced.
You should remember that the gained body weight is only temporary. Instead of hampering self-esteem, you should delight in the pregnancy glow. You can also go to a salon and get a new skincare routine to pamper yourself.
The mood changes in pregnancy are sometimes very random. The interplay of mood swings can leave you confused, angry, frustrated, irritated and more all at once. It is a very commonplace situation for pregnant women.
The best coping strategy to deal with mixed emotions is to identify the exact mood and the reason behind it. Narrowing down your mixed moods to one or two feelings can give you more clarity on how to address them. You can talk to your OB-GYN or counsellor about this.
Here are some expert-approved tips to help you deal with the mood swings:
Mood swings during pregnancy is a routine phenomenon. You should let all your emotions come and go at their own pace.
If your negative emotions do not subside by practising these techniques for up to 2 weeks, consult your doctor.
Learn more about pregnancy changes from Dr Aruna Kalra – Director – Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the CK Birla Hospital.
Also, read: Pregnancy Diet- What to eat whatnot
There is substantial levels of stigma prevailing around breast health. Women are embarassed to openly talk about concepts concerning their breasts. An ailment as simple as breast pain is shrugged under the carpet. Nonetheless, recognition is ideal for accessibility. To rally awareness about the same, we will discuss the several causes why breast pain occurs.
An abnormal sensation of sharp pain, burning, tenderness or tightness in the breast is characterises as breast pain. It is most often a symptom of some underlying breast condition.
Breast pain is also medically referred to as mastalgia. It affects each woman differently. Some women experiences a sudden throbbing pain while others have persistent pain in the chest.
Breast pain reasons are not restricted to a single condition. Here are top 10 breast pain causes:
If every month you find yourself wondering why my breast is paining, your hormonal changes could be the answer. Your body undergoes severe hormone fluctuations each month as your menstrual cycle approaches.
The levels of estrogen and progesterone swift drastically. This shift in hormones can cause your breasts to swell and become tender. You may also experience pain and lumpiness in your breasts at this time. You can expect to feel immense pain 2-3 days before you get your periods.
Treatment – The pain in your breasts caused due to reproductive hormones normally subsides on its own towards the end of your periods.
As you grow old, your breasts undergo several types of non-cyclic changes. Overtime, cysts-like structures can develop in your breast leading to pain. Most often, breast cysts cause breast tenderness.
Treatment – Breast pain reasons associated with cysts need to be examined by your healthcare provider. You can eat a fibrous and low-salt diet to help alleviate the pain.
Mastitis is an infection that affects your breasts. It is most commonly found in new mothers who breastfeed their infants. The clogging of the milk duct can cause mastitis and lead to breast pain.
Besides breast pain, other symptoms of mastitis include fever, fatigue, swelling and redness of breasts.
Treatment: A cure for mastitis requires medical intervention by your healthcare provider.
A chest wall is the collective muscles, tissues and bones that surround your heart and lungs. Pain in right breast or left one can also be prompted when your chest wall gets hurt or injured. A muscle pull, fracture, trauma or inflammation can cause pain and discomfort.
Treatment – Your healthcare provider will order a range of tests to identify the cause of pain. Based on the diagnosis, he/she will offer treatment for the area that is hurt or affected.
Sometimes the answer to why is my breast paining is hidden in the type of bra or support you are wearing. An improperly fitted bra, whether it is too loose or too tight, can cause breast pain.
Treatment – If your breast pain causes are linked with your bra, the ideal fix is to replace the undergarment with the one that fits better. Make sure that your bra does not ride back up or dig deep into the skin.
The importance of breast cancer screening is heightened because most times, its signs and symptoms are overlooked. Breast cancer rarely causes any pain. However, you would be able to notice a change in the appearance of your breast. Sometimes, you can also find yourself become more tender as a result of cancer.
Treatment – The treatment of breast cancer depends upon the stage of stage and your overall health. Your breast cancer care team will offer you comprehensive treatment options to get rid of cancer.
Also, read: High risk of breast cancer: Screening guidelines
Some medications aimed at treating a completely different condition can cause breast pain. For instance, a few medicines for mental health conditions, reproductive hormone and cardiovascular diseases can trigger sharp pain in the breast.
Treatment – You should discuss these side-effects with your healthcare provider. Your doctor may suggest some lifestyle remedies or clinical care to help alleviate the pain.
Sometimes, pain in your back, neck or shoulders can travel down to your breasts. This transfer of pain is caused by the structure of upper torso responsible for the distribution of nerves.
Treatment – Your healthcare provider will treat the root cause of pain and offer relevant relief medicines.
Similar to any other body part, your breasts can also get injured from high-impact sports or accidents. Breast pain is the foremost sign of a breast injury.
Treatment – Breast pain reasons related to injury require a proper treatment that ranges from medicinal use to surgical procedures. Your doctor will treat the injured site and give relief from all symptoms.
If you have had breast surgery recently, your pain could be a result post-operative health. Sometimes, breast surgery can lead to scar tissue formation that can cause pain and tenderness.
Treatment – You should consult your surgeon if your pain escalates after surgery. Your doctor will give you proper instructions for a swift and quick recovery.
Breast pain can also be triggered by other reasons such as acid imbalance in your stomach, breastfeeding, presence of breast implants, smoking and more.
Most breast pain reasons require clinical inspection and care. Nevertheless, you can still take measures from your end to reduce or alleviate breast pain. These tips include:
You should note that cyclic pain accounts for nearly 70% of breast pain causes. A change in your lifestyle habits can result in healthier cycles which can further prevent breast pain.
Pain in the left breast can sometimes be misinterpreted as cardiovascular pain. It is important that you understand why breast pain is happening. However, you should not self-diagnose yourself and consult a Breast cancer specialist for investigating the cause.
For more information on breast health, consult Dr Rohan Khandelwal, best breast specialist at the CK Birla Hospital.
Picture this – you have sent that important email, rushed to cook and eat dinner, cleaned up the house and put the children to bed. Now it’s your time to cuddle up and get a good night’s sleep. But as you are dozing off in the world of dreams, you are interrupted by a throbbing pain the stomach. Stomach pain at night is a surprisingly common condition.
In this article, a leading general surgeon at the CK Birla Hospital, discusses some common reasons behind nighttime stomach pain and what you can do about it.
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It is never a pleasing situation to find that your stomach has turned up against you. However, what feels worse is being compelled to wake up from the pain.
Some people experience a disturbing ache in their abdomen usually at the end of the day or in the middle of the night. Stomach pain during the day can differ from the one at night. The primary reason lies in what causes stomach pain to occur.
The following is a list of some common causes of nighttime abdominal pain-
So, you had a fancy three-course meal for dinner. But the deliciousness of the food has transitioned into sharp bouts of pain in the stomach. Chances are high that your stomach pain is a result of gas. Gastric issues are extraordinarily common when people lose or divert from their usual dietary patterns. It can also be a result of stale or uncooked food. A heavy meal at any time of the day (usually lunch or dinner) can often translate into gas. If you experience sharp pain mostly in your upper abdomen, you may be suffering from gas.
Have you ever felt a sour irritable sense in your food pipe or your mouth? Acid reflux is when the acid in your stomach travels back up. It is a common digestive disorder that often shows up at the night in the form of heartburn. If your meal was loaded with spices, you may have acid reflux. Fried and oily foods also lead to stomach pain associated with indigestion. If you lie down right after eating dinner, your chances of getting acid reflux increase.
Your stomach pain at night may also be related to irritable bowel syndrome. Most people experience gas, bloating and a change in bowel movement in this condition.
So you ate a healthy and light meal but still woke up from stomach pain? You may have an underlying health condition that requires a detailed investigation. Sometimes yours nighttime stomach ache can be a result of stones in the gallbladder. Gallstones cause high-intensity stomach pain during sleep. If you have had a heavy meal, the symptoms of gallstones will worsen.
If your stomach is left empty for an extended time, then you may feel pain due to ulcers. Nighttime is when your stomach is empty for the longest time in a day. Stomach ulcers cause throbbing pain, especially during sleep.
Several other conditions such as diverticulitis, kidney stones, food intolerances, allergies, constipation, Crohn’s disease, gut and throat conditions can also cause stomach pain.
Read: Foods to avoid to prevent acid reflux (GERD)
The appropriate treatment for stomach pain at night depends upon the reason that is causing it. You should try to identify the core issue and address it. For instance, if the pain is related to gas, you should walk to clear up the gas or ask your pharmacist for an antacid.
If you have recurrent abdominal pain during the night (more than twice a week), you should consult a gastroenterologist. Your primary healthcare provider may also be able to guide you towards a relevant remedial method.
Conditions such as acid reflux or irritable bowel syndrome can be treated with the use of medications. Some conditions, such as gallstones or kidney stones, may also require surgical removal for relief from stomach pain and other symptoms. Your doctor determines the size of stones, your complete health condition, age and other factors before indicating surgery.
There are a variety of preventive measures you can take for stomach pain at night. Most precautions require basic lifestyle moderations.
Here is a list of fairly simple lifestyle changes you can do:
If you experience stomach pain at night, there is no need to worry or panic. Most of the times, abdominal pain at night subsides on its own and does not require immediate medical attention.
However, you should not take abdominal pain lightly if it occurs for long periods or at a higher frequency. You should practice the above-given prevention tips to avoid pain. In case the prevention measures do not work, make sure to consult with your healthcare provider.
More often than not, stomach pain at night results from an underlying health condition. Your doctor would suggest relevant screenings and diagnostic tests identify the real cause of concern. According to the diagnosis and your overall wellness, treatment is offered.
Also, read: Causes of stomach ache after eating
Arthritis mostly affects a person at old age. Most people experience a variety of health concerns at this age. You may be undergoing changes in your skin, heart health, mobility, digestive health and whatnot. It is, therefore, possible to miss the early symptoms of arthritis.
Surprisingly, the prevalence of arthritis is higher than that of many popular ailments such as diabetes and cancer. This condition nearly 180 million people in India. The rising incidence makes it important to learn about the signs and symptoms of arthritis.
In this article, Dr Ashwani Maichand, a leading orthopaedic doctor in Gurgaon, discusses arthritis symptoms and treatment.
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Let us explore what arthritis is before we find out about arthritis symptoms.
Arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation of the joints. This ailment can impact people across ages, however, it is highly common in people over the age of 50. Arthritis in children and young adults is possible but rare.
Arthritis symptoms depend on the joint that has been affected. However, some common warning signs indicate this ailment:
Sometimes, arthritis can also cause non-joint related symptoms. These include:
There are more than 100 different types of arthritis depending on the joint they affect. However, two types of arthritis are most common among all – Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is the most common among all types of arthritis. It is considered as degenerative arthritis that impacts most patients.
The ends of your bones are protected by smooth cartilage. Osteoarthritis happens when this protective cartilage wears down and causes your bones to rub together. This situation leads to pain and inflammation in your joints that are at further risk of developing into other conditions.
Symptoms: The common symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain, inflammation, loss of flexibility, joint soreness and morning stiffness.
Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in your body. However, it mostly impacts the hands, knees, hips and spine. It is because these joints suffer from most wear and tear from bearing most of your body’s weight.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease (when your immune system mistakingly attacks healthy cells in your body). It is also one of the common types of arthritis.
Women are three times more likely of being affecting by rheumatoid arthritis as compared to men. In this chronic disorder, your immune system targets your healthy joint tissues and causes pain and inflammation.
Symptoms: Common rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include tenderness and swelling in joints, morning stiffness, fatigue, fever and loss of appetite.
Rheumatoid arthritis majorly affects the joints that attach your fingers to your hands and your toes to your feet. This condition can also affect your eyes, skin, heart, kidneys, nerve tissues, lungs and more.
Lupus, Ankylosing spondylitis, infectious arthritis and reactive arthritis are more types of arthritis affecting people worldwide.
Read: Your comprehensive guide to joint pains and their treatment
There is no arthritis cure. Medical science has not yet discovered any curative measure for this condition. Although there have been no advancements in how to cure arthritis, effective measures are present to treat this condition.
Your doctor will indicate several diagnostic tests to confirm the type of arthritis. He/she will also discuss the severity of your symptoms during the preliminary exams.
Some of the common tests done before arthritis treatment are laboratory tests, X-rays, CT scans, MRI, ultrasound and more.
There are surgical and non-surgical interventions for arthritis treatment. Your healthcare provider will indicate the relevant treatment protocol based on your diagnosis. Your arthritis symptoms and treatment depend on several factors such as your overall health, type of arthritis, the severity of symptoms and more.
Most people feel relief from arthritis symptoms after medicinal support. Your doctor may indicate surgical joint repair, joint replacement or joint fusion as a remedy to your arthritis.
Arthritis prevention or management of arthritis symptoms is possible with the help of simple lifestyle changes.
Here are some steps you can take for arthritis prevention:
Albeit the fact that there is no arthritis cure, it is possible to live a healthy life and alleviate symptoms of this ailment. The early symptoms of arthritis allow us to take preventive measures and avail treatment at a sooner stage.
You can consult Dr Ashwani Maichand – best bone & joint specialist at the CK Birla Hospital to learn more about arthritis symptoms and treatment.
Also, read: Can you prevent osteoporosis by just increasing your calcium intake?
Most of us are familiar with the term Urinary Tract Infection or UTI. It is a condition that is more commonly associated with women. While women are more prone to developing urinary tract infections, men can also develop UTIs. In this article, Dr Shalabh Aggrawal – a leading urologist and andrologist in Gurgaon answers common questions about urinary tract infections or UTI in men, their symptoms, treatment and preventive measures.
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The male urinary system or urinary tract comprises of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra and prostate gland. It is responsible for removing waste from the body and expelling it in the form of urine. Infections in any of these body parts are referred to as urinary tract infections. It is caused by bacteria that can get inside the urinary tract.
If the infection is limited to the bladder and urethra (the lower part of the urinary tract), it is referred to as a lower UTI or cystitis. In more severe cases, the infection can spread to rest of the urinary tract, impacting the bladder and the kidneys. This is known as pyelonephritis. It is much more serious and can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys.
The male urinary tract has a longer urethra as compared to women, which makes the passage of bacteria much more difficult. Hence, women are more prone to developing UTIs. The proximity of the anus to urethra also increases the risk of developing UTI in women.
UTIs are caused by bacterial buildup in any part of the urinary tract.
Infections in the urethra are called urethritis. It is most commonly caused due to sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea. Other types of infections are less common as urine sterilises the urethra before it can get infected.
Bladder infections are less common in men due to the length of their urethra. Infections in the prostate is called prostatitis. It can be due to bacteria from the bladder or bloodstream. In severe cases, kidneys can also get affected.
Some men may have a higher risk of developing urinary tract infections. The risk factors of UTI include:
Also, read: Everything you need to know about prostate enlargement: Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Signs and symptoms of UTI in men include:
Diagnosing this condition in elderly patients may be challenging, especially if the patient is unable to express his/her issues due to age-related conditions such as dementia. In such cases, the patient may exhibit fever and confusion.
UTI is diagnosed on the basis of the patient’s medical history. The doctor will make a detailed note of all your symptoms and assess your risk of developing UTIs. Your urine sample will be tested for bacteria to confirm the diagnosis. If this is a recurrent problem, further tests may be done to identify the root cause.
Like any bacterial infection, UTI is also treated with antibiotics. The doctor may also recommend pain medication in case of severe discomfort.
Some causes of UTI may not be preventable. But with a little care, the risk of developing it can be reduced significantly. Preventive measures for UTI include:
Seek immediate medical attention if:
UTIs are seldom a cause of worry. However, recurrent or severe UTIs do need medical attention at the earliest. You can meet Dr Shalabh Aggrawal at the CK Birla Hosptial Gurgaon for treatment of all urological problems.
Also, read: Guide to identifying UTI and managing its risk
No single woman is exempt from the risk of developing breast cancer. Nevertheless, some women have a definitive increased risk. Your screening instructions differ when you have a high risk of breast cancer. In this article, Dr Rohan Khandelwal, a leading breast cancer expert at the CK Birla Hospital, sheds some light on the breast cancer screening guidelines for women with above-average risk.
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Some women are more vulnerable to developing cancerous cells in their breasts. There is a wide variety of risk factors that determine this predisposition. Some of the common risk factors of breast cancer include:
Breast cancer early detection is the ideal strategy for effective treatment. If you have an association with any of the above-given risk factors, your breast cancer screening guidelines are altered to offer an optimal diagnosis.
Breast cancer early detection is possible with routine screening tests. Breast cancer screening tests are a group of tests that help in the identification and detection of cancer cells in the breast at an early stage. Screening tests are used by healthcare providers to look for signs and symptoms of cancer cells.
Patients can avoid developing cancer to an advanced stage and receiving relevant treatment beforehand with the help of screening tests. These tests are only a way for detection and should not be misunderstood as breast cancer prevention options.
Some of the common types of breast cancer screening tests include:
Your doctor may indicate other screening tests such as CT scans, ultrasound, PET scans, biopsy and more if and when the need for them is suspected.
Watch the video as Dr Rohan Khandelwal, Breast cancer specialist – the CK Birla Hospital explains how to perform breast self-examination and how often it should be done.
The breast cancer screening guidelines differ for women depending on their risk factors. All women have an average risk of breast cancer, irrespective of their predisposition. However, only some have a higher risk.
Since breast cancer early detection is more crucial for women with an increased risk, the instructions for screenings are different for them.
Women with an average risk for breast cancer should implement the following protocol for screening:
Frequent and additional tests are indicated for women with high risk for breast cancer.
There are important differences in screening guidelines between average and high-risk women – increased frequency of tests and an early age for screening.
While knowing that you have a high risk of breast cancer can be overwhelming, it also paves way for early detection. Breast cancer screening guidelines need to be taken seriously whether or not you have an increased possibility for developing this ailment.
If you wish to learn about your risk of breast cancer, you can consult with Dr Rohan Khandelwal, breast cancer specialist at the CK Birla Hospital.
Also, read: Breast Cancer- Screening & Diagnosis
Rickets is a bone disorder that can be traced as far back as the 17th century. During this time it rose to infamy as “the English disease” due to its outbreak in 17th century England. Until the 1920s not much was known about the disorder or what causes rickets. With time, further research highlighted the role that diet, lifestyle, environment and genetic factors played in developing this condition. Rickets affects infants and children causing long-term developmental problems and stunted growth.
In this article, we will shed more light on this condition and ways to manage it.
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In the early days, rickets was mistakenly thought to have socio-economic roots. Today, that misconception has been cleared up and rickets is no longer considered to be a disease limited to lower economic countries or regions. So, what causes rickets?
Rickets can be inherited or be caused due to diet and lifestyle. The latter is called nutritional rickets. In some cases, underlying conditions can also increase the risk of developing rickets.
The most common cause of rickets is:
The importance of Vitamin D in our diet and lifestyle has come into light daily recently. Vitamin D is produced in our body when we are exposed to sunlight. This vitamin helps us absorb and process calcium. In adults, vitamin D deficiency can cause osteomalacia.
Rickets can occur in any child. Some children however are more prone towards developing this condition. Studies show that ethnicity can also increase the risk of developing rickets. Premature babies also have a greater tendency to develop this condition during their childhood as babies build up stores of vitamin D while they are inutero.
Today, children tend to spend more time indoors. This further decreases their exposure to healthy sunlight. This greatly contributes to the increasing incidence of rickets in children. You should encourage your child to spend some time outside regularly to ensure that they get their daily dose of the sun.experts recommend 10-15 minutes of sunlight exposure daily. Remember to avoid direct sunlight, use ample amount of sunscreen and protective clothing to keep them safe from harmful rays.
Delayed growth and delayed motor skills are some of the most obvious symptoms of rickets to watch out for. Read more on important growth and developmental milestones for your child.
Children and infants with rickets may also experience pain in the spine, pelvis and legs as well as exhibit muscle weakness.
Physical deformities such as bowed legs (commonly called knocked knees), thickened wrist and ankle joints as well as breastbone projection are common physical symptoms of rickets. Idetifying symptoms in infants can seem challenging. Babies with rickets are generally fussy and have soft skulls.
If these symptoms become too obvious and is becoming a cause of concern, consult a paediatric orthopaedic doctor immediately to form a treatment plan for arresting and correcting the deformity.
Long term impact of rickets includes an abnormally curved spine, failure to grow, bone and dental deformities and seizures in extreme cases.
If your child has certain underlying or preexisting health conditions, they have a greater risk of developing rickets. You would need to take special care in spotting symptoms early if you child has condition such as Celiac disease, inflammatory bowel syndrome, Cystic fibrosis or kidney problems. These conditions impact the way vitamin D is absorbed in the body, resulting in rickets.
In some cases, long term use of specific medications such as anti-seizure medication and antireteroviral medications can also interfere in the body’s ability to absorb vitamin D. In such cases, consult your child’s paediatrician to develop a plan for preventing rickets.
Depending on the severity of the condition and its root cause, treatment approaches can be medical, dietary or surgical. In case the condition is caused by some other underlying ailment, treating the primary disease is essential. Inhertited rickets requires a more specialised approach and it is best to consult a doctor experienced in managing rickets.
Extremely serious deformities such as extreme cases of knock-knees can also be surgically corrected.
Medical management of rickets includes annual injections of vitamin D (recommended if the child is unable to take oral supplements or has intestinal/liver disease), oral vitamin D & calcium supplements and dietary changes.
Also, read: Importance of Vitamin D
A paediatrician or a paediatric orthopaedic doctor will be able to provide more insight into your child’s health and help you create a customised diet that addresses any nutritional gaps your child has. You would need to take extra care if your child is lactose intolerant. In India, we get most of our calcium from dairy products. If your child is lactose intolerant, talk to your doctor to know more about dietary substitutes.
For more information, you can visit at the CK Birla Hospital, Gurgaon. Book your appointment today!
Also, read: Countering Vitamin D deficiency with little sunshine and right lifestyle
A woman becomes a mother from the moment she learns that she is carrying a child. The news of pregnancy irks the behaviour of motherhood. She encounters a variety of emotions ranging from joy, excitement, calmness and worry. However, for some women, the extent of worry goes overboard. It is because they have a possibility of a high risk pregnancy.
In India, nearly 20-30% gestational women go through a high risk pregnancy. Despite such high figures, there is little understanding of the management and prevention of high risk pregnancy.
In this article, Dr Deepika Aggarwal, the best obstetrician & gynecologist in Gurgaon for high risk pregnancy, provides an overview of this health condition.
Table of Contents
As the name denotes, a high risk pregnancy is the one that has higher risks of health complications for the newborn, the mother or both.
These health complications can arise anytime during, before or after pregnancy. There is special gynecologist for high risk pregnancy that offer additional monitoring and care.
Some women are more prone to endure a high-risk pregnancy than others. Several risk factors result in this condition. Some common factors include:
Maternal Age: If you are an expecting mother over the age of 35 years or younger than 17 years, you would have higher odds of going through a high-risk pregnancy. There are additional risks of genetic deformities and miscarriage in women over the age of 40.
Lifestyle: Your lifestyle choices directly impact your child’s life. The chances of high-risk pregnancy increase in women who lead a sedentary life. If you have a history of smoking, drinking alcohol or substance abuse, you would be more vulnerable to this condition. It is recommended that you discuss your medical history with your doctor so that preventive healthcare can be given to you.
Underlying health conditions: Pre-existing health conditions such as high blood pressure, thyroid, obesity, diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, cancer, autoimmune diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, blood disorders, fertility issues and more can cause serious health concerns to the unborn child.
Obstetrics history: Your previous pregnancies can also cause a high-risk pregnancy in the present. You should discuss your obstetrics history with your doctor to plan the care you need. Previous obstetrics medical conditions that can lead to high-risk pregnancy are-
Numerous complications can arise during pregnancy. Some of the common pregnancy complications are:
Among the top pregnancy complications that pave way for high risk pregnancy is the possibility of preterm labour. Preterm labour is the one that is induced before 37 weeks gestation.
One of the most common pregnancy complications in women is preeclampsia. It is a disorder that leads to a sudden rise in blood pressure. It mostly develops after the 20th week of gestation.
It is a specific type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. In most cases, gestational diabetes can be treated post-delivery with the help of lifestyle-based treatment plans.
Numerous birth defects can affect a child. If the presence of such birth defects is seen during screening, there are higher odds of a high-risk pregnancy. In such cases, expecting mothers require closer medical care.
A baby is expected to grow at a moderate pace. If the baby’s growth is interrupted for some reason, the expecting mother would have to deliver pre-term. This situation raises the likelihood of a high-risk pregnancy.
There is a greater chance of undergoing a high risk pregnancy if the mother is expecting multiples. Birthing more than one baby can give rise to several complications.
If you are impacted by any of these risk factors, you should consult the best gynecologist in Gurgaon for high risk pregnancy.
You can avoid high-risk pregnancy with an attentive approach. Here is a list of measures you can take for the prevention of high-risk pregnancy:
You can book an appointment with Dr Deepika Aggrawal to learn more about how to prevent high risk pregnancy.
The incidence of high-risk pregnancy is very common for gynaecologists. Some specialised doctors help in the management of high-risk pregnancies.
Each pregnancy is unique and so is its prenatal care. Your gynaecologist for high-risk pregnancy will carefully monitor your health. Depending upon on your health conditions, he/she indicate certain tests or screenings. These include:
High-risk pregnancy treatment is varying in every case. The type of treatment offered depends upon the type of disease, its effect on the baby, the patient’s overall health condition and more. Most of the high-risk pregnancy complications can be treated effectively if the condition is highlighted in the early stages. This is why it is more important to have regular prenatal care.
You can get customised high-risk pregnancy treatment in Gurgaon at the CK Birla Hospital.
Undoubtedly, high-risk pregnancy is a critical time for expecting parents. You would have to practice extra prenatal care and look out for any problems.
You should immediately consult your healthcare provider in case you have:
Read: Vaginal Discharge: What’s normal and what is not?
High-risk pregnancy puts, both, the mother and child at risk of health complications. However, these complications can be minimised with the early intervention of a specialised gynaecologist and extra prenatal care.
A high-risk pregnancy is an ordinary phenomenon around the globe. Due to its high prevalence, it requires an increased amount of awareness. The above article is your complete guide for a high-risk pregnancy.
To know more about maternal and child health, you can book an appointment with Dr Deepika Aggarwal, the best gynecologist in Gurgaon for high-risk pregnancies.
You can also visit the CK Birla Hospital for more details.
Ques: How will a high-risk pregnancy alter my prenatal care?
With a high-risk pregnancy, you can expect to visit your obstetrician/gynaecologist more frequently. Your doctor will monitor your health more closely than for a normal pregnancy.
Ques: How do I know my pregnancy is high risk?
Your gynaecologist will be able to tell if you have a high-risk pregnancy. However, you can get a better idea by yourself by knowing the risk factors of a high-risk pregnancy.
Also, read: Tips to ensure healthy Pregnancy
